Abstract

﻿The estimated annual average catch and catch rate of catfish by trawlers at New Ferry Wharf, Mumbai decreased from
2,586 t and 2.2 kg/h during 1991-1994 to 1,548 t and 1.0 kg/h during 1995-2004. Tachysurus tenuispinis, T. serratus and
T. thalassinus appear to be susceptible to fishing. T. thalassinus grow slowly, attain large size, mature late, get recruited early
to the fishery, and a large majority are exploited before attaining first maturity. The sex ratio of five species of catfish was
biased toward male when young, but the number of males substantially decreased in larger group, and at lengths closer to
L max, males were rarely found. The presence of immature and mature ova in the same ovaries indicated that they are fractional
spawners. The number of ripe eggs in the oro-buccal cavity of gestating males was always less than the number of eggs
recorded in the ovary of females. Due to gestation behaviour, the males are more vulnerable to fishing.